on CREED (2015, 133 minutes, PG-13)
The Quick of It -
I admit I am not one of
the Rocky fanboys from long ago. I know
plenty who are and live through the 'Rockyisms'.
Mickey - "You're
gonna eat lightnin' and you're gonna crap thunder!"
CREED is a true Rocky
flick in almost all respects, carrying the 39-year-old film's legacy into the
modern era. The elements of life's
hardships and personal struggle are there, as is the core of a good Rocky film. The story tells of Creed's bastard son,
Adonis Johnson, who gets put into group homes at an early age and then works
hard through his fists to get out from under his father's shadow.
The technique used to
put the audience into the boxing ring was on par with some of the best fight
movies. It was beyond what I remember
from any of the past or recent boxing films and made you dance in the footwork and
feel the physical blows. The
choreography between sparring fighters and the camera put you in the action and
reminded me how I did once enjoy the sport of boxing. Sadly, the top boxing cards have been disappointing fights as of
late and the tradition of boxing has been tarnished with shame and doubt.
Mickey - "Your
nose is broken."
Rocky - "How does
it look?"
Mickey - " Ah,
it's an improvement."
Michael B. Jordan's
acting range has been called into question based on his previous endeavors
(FANTASTIC FOUR, FRUITVILLE STATION, CHRONICLE...
"All My Children") by his sometimes uncharismatic presence and one
dimensional character parts. But
re-teaming with director Ryan Coogler (from FRUITVILLE STATION), Jordan makes
complete sense and shows he can play lead effectively. The synergy in the simpler scenes and his
everyday-man approach is a credit to both.
Sylvester Stallone
reprising his role as Rocky was effective in the plot building but seemed
forced with poor integration when progressing his subplot. Unlike Schwarzenegger's return as the
Terminator, Stallone's performance did not need to carry the film. Stallone did do well as showing an aged
fighter and who is struggling with his loses.
All you could do is cringe and shake your head as you watched an icon
suffer, even though fictional.
Mickey - "Why do
you wear that old sweaty thing?"
Rocky - "It brings
me luck."
Mickey - "It
brings you flies."
CREED is a great
addition to the ROCKY collection and any fanboy should find it an acceptable
passing of the torch.
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